Safety razor



Jan. s, 1952 L, STOVER 2,582,176

` SAFETY RAZOR Filed Sept. 2, 1949 l r' F n I9 Kawa, a

Fl?" ROY LSTOVER Snventor Patented Jan. 8, 16952 UNI TED S TA'iTES (1F-FI CE SAFETY RAZOR Roy L. Stover, Wichita, Kans.

Application September 2, 1949, Serial No. 113,697

5 Claims.

lThis invention relates. to safety razors of the typehaving replaceableblades. The most commonly used razor of this typeincludes a curvedsurface blade backing plate, blade positioning bossesfon` theV plate, acooperating curved blade clamping, plateand some means for urging theclamping plate toward the backing plate to tightly clamp ,the bladebetween the two plates. VIt alsoincludes a toothed guard extending alongand closely adjacent the blade cutting edge.

`This type of razorhas several inherent disadvantages: (l) the bladepositioning bosses fit the cut-outs in the razorblade loosely and as aresult thecutting edge of the blade is seldom positioned parallel totheadjacent edges of the blade backing and clamping plates; (2) to removeand replace theblade it is first necessary to loosen and detach theclamping plate from the rest of the razor; (3). the clamping plate, theblade, ,and backing plate must be cleanedvand dried separately; (4) whenthe razor is reassembled and stored for the next use the blade, which isof high grade steel, -isin firm contact with the backing and clampingplates,y which are usually of a dissimilarmetal. two. .metals often setsup an electrolytic action, which causes corrosion; (5) although theblade is forced by the twopplates to assume an arcuate form, the axis ofcurvature is parallel to thecutting edge of the blade, and the cuttingedge itl self-lies in a straight line. As a result the cuttingedgeitself is not4 stressed, and blade vibration occurs during the shavingoperation, which seriously interferes with obtaining a smooth shave;y(6) the. rake type'guard forms a pocket extending along the insidesurface of the cutting edge, and soap and whisker cuttings quicklyaccumulate and pack into this pocket, necessitating cleaning of thepocket several times during each shave. blade clamping plate in order toclean=out this pocket so that the accumulation will not interfer withthe shaving operation.

rIt is thegeneral object of my* invention, .therefore, to providea razorso constructed lals to obviate all the above specified disadvantages.

The razor of the present invention automatically positions thecuttingedge of the blade parallel to, yet spaced slightly from the guard, thusassuring that all parts of the cutting edge. will contact the skin withsubstantially` equal `pressure during the shaving operation. It providesfor the release, removal, and replacement of the blade Without priorremovalor disassembly of` anypart of.Y tberagor- It permits ,eentfcleaning. 0f; the

The dissimilarity of these It is often even necessary to loosen theblade withoutthe necessity of touching it or removing it from the razor.It permits storage of the blade without removing it from the razor, andwithout either of its side surfaces being Ain Contact with thedissimilar metal of which the razor may be made, thus eliminatingbladecorrosion due to electrolytic action. Itv a-iords a means of stressingthe'edge of theblade during the shaving operation, thus eliminatingblade vibration. rThis latter -result is achieved by deiorrnng the bladeedge into convex form, the axis of curvature being normalV to thecutting edge.

Last but not least thepresent invention provides an ope-n slot betweenthe blade cutting edge and thek guard, so that the soap and cut whiskersresulting from the shaving operation may pass freely through the slot toa` position behind the blade. and its guard, and cannot possiblyinterfere with the proper functioning of either the blade or guard. Thusthev shaving operation can be continued until iinished with-V out thenecessity of loosening the blade and cleaning out the accumulation ofcuttings .and soap.

An additional object is the provision of a continuous smooth surfacedguard for the curved cutting edge of the blade, so that the skin beingshaved presents a surface which conforms to the shape of the bladecutting edge, thus assuring an equal cut of hair all along the cuttingedge.

The. details inthe construction of a preferred form of the invention,together with other objects, will be more clearly understood when thefollowing description is read with reference to the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

Figs. 1 and 2 are plan and side views respectively of a blade handlingclamp which constitutes a part of the razor;

Figs. 3 and. 4 are plan and side views respectively. of a clampactuating yoke or lever, together with its cooperating pin;

VFigs. 5 and 6 are plan and side views respectively of a handle and itsrigidly attached or integral-blade backing plate and guard;

i Figs. 7 and. 8 are assembled views of the razor with blade installed,Fig. 8 being a plan view, and Fig. 7 being a partial section along theline 1 ;1 of Fig. 8, the biadebeing shown in its free or non-.clampedposition;

Figs. 9 and 10 are views similar respectively toFigs. 7 and 8, the bladebeing shown in its clamp-ed or shaving position;

Fig. 11 is a front view of the razor with blade removed, its relativeinstalled position being indicated by broken lilies; and

Fig. 12 is a plan View of a blade suitable for use with this razor.

Referring particularly to Figs. 5 and 6, a blade backing plate I5 isrigidly secured to one end of a handle I6, as by welding or brazing. Theplate is arcuate, as shown, and includes a blade backing surface II(Fig. 11), and a rearwardly oifset rounded guard surface I8, the twobeing separated intermediate their ends by a through slot I9. This plateis also provided with a pair of oppositely positioned inwardly extendingnotches 2li, one in each of its ends, the purpose of which will beexplained herein.

Near its attachment to the plate I5, the handle I6 is provided with anelongated slot 2l which lies in a plane substantially parallel to theupper edge of the plate I5, and in a plane common to the one in whichthe notches Z lie. The handle is also provided with an arcuate throughslot 22, located near the rounded end of the slot El, as shown. Thecenter of curvature of this slot 22 is located approximately at therounded end of the slot 2|.

A blade handling clamp 23, is clearly shown in Figs. l and 2. Itincludes a cross bar 24, oppositely positioned integral aligned arms 25and 26, a yoke bar 21, and a trunnion 2S. Slots 23 and Sil are providedon the inside edges of the arms 25 and 25 respectively, and are adaptedto loosely receive the side edges 3l and 32 of a blade 33. The ears Siland 35 of the blade 33 extend outward beyond these slots and rest on thearms proper, as clearly shown in Fig. 8, to support the cutting edge ofthe blade in the proper position with relation to the slot i9 and theguard It, as shown by the broken lines in Fig. 1l. y In assembling therazor the clamp 23 is slipped sidewise into the elongated slot 2l to theposition shown in Figs. 9 to ll, with its arms 25 and 26 slidablypositioned in the side slots 2S of the plate i5. In this position theclamp is slidable fore and aft from the position shown in Figs. 7 and 8to the position shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

As a means of positively moving the clamp 23 between these twopositions, a thumb actuated lever 3S is provided, as shown in Figs. 3and 4. rfhis lever is bifurcated to straddle the handle. Its spacedsides are provided with oppositely positioned, alined, U-shaped recesses31, and alined perforations to receive the opposite ends .of a pin 38.The recesses 3l receive the opposite ends of the trunnion 28, and thepin 3S passes through the arcuate slot 22 in the handle. The ends of thepin are upset slightly after the lever has been installed on the handlein the position shown in Figs. 7 to 10.

Operation By the application of upward thumb pressure on its free end,the lever 33 is moved to the position shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Duringthis movement the pin 38 moves to the aft end of the arcuate slot 22,and thereafter the aft walls of the recesses 31 exert a camming actionon the trunnion 28. The blade 33, mounted in the slots 29 and 30, ismoved forward out of contact with the backing plate I. With the parts inthese relative positions the razor may be held under a stream of waterand both sides of the blades washed clean. The guard Iii and the slot I3will simultaneously be cleaned. The razor may now be set on any flatsurface, ready for the next use. No electrolytic action can occur tocause 4 blade corrosion because the blade is not in contact with thebacking plate I5. If it is desired to change blades it is only necessaryto invert the razor. The blade will freely fall out of the clamp slots23 and 30, and a new blade canbe inserted in its place.

To place the razor in condition for shaving it is only necessary to pushdownward on the free end of the lever 36 moving it into the positionshown in Figs. 9 and 10. During this movement the pin 38 moves forwardto about the fore and aft center of its slot 22, at which time theforward walls of the recesses 3'I contact the trunnion 28 and beginmoving the entire clamp 23 rearward. When the blade I5 assumes theposition shown in Fig. 10, further rearward movement of the arms 25 and26 is prevented. Due to the fore and aft length of these arms, asdesigned, the trunnion at this stage of the movement is just forward ofthe position shown in Fig. 9. Further movement of the lever 36 forciblymoves the trunnion 28, bows the cross bar 24 of the clamp slightly, andforces the pin 38 to the forward end of its slot 22, in which positionit is held tightly due to the spring force exerted by the slightly bowedcross bar 24. In this position of the parts forward movement of theclamp 23 is positively prevented, and the razor blade is locked tightlyin shaving position.

It will be noted that the cutting edge of the blade is arcuately bent,thus stressing it and preventing blade vibration. Please also note, asclearly indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 11, that the cutting edgelies perfectly parallel to the guard I8, and terminates just short ofthe upper edge of this guard, thus leaving the slot i9 open so that soapand cuttings may pass freely to the aft side of the guard and plate I5.These relative positions of the parts will be maintained until upwardthumb pressure is applied to the free end of the lever 36.

While only one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, the invention is not limited to the exact form shown, and isintended to include all modifications and equivalents which fall withinthe scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention with sufficient clarity to enable thosefamiliar with the art to construct and use it, I claim:

l. A safety razor including a blade backing plate and a rearwardlyoffset integral blade guard spaced from the blade backing surface of theplate by an elongated through slot, both the plate proper and itsintegral guard being permanently arced about a center transverse to thelength of the plate; a blade clamp movable fore and aft with relation tothe blade backing plate U and adapted to engage the opposite ends of ablade to support it independent of said plate, and to move it into andout of contact with said plate; a thumb operated lever operativelyengaging said clamp for effecting such movement; and a handle rigidlyconnected to said plate and on which both the clamp and lever aremovably mounted.

2. A safety razor comprising: a handle; a blade backing plate rigidlymounted in a tranverse position at one end of the handle; a bifurcatedblade clamp mounted on the handle for reciprocating movement withrelation thereto in a plane substantially at right angles to the planeof the front face of the backing plate, the spaced arms of the clampextending to a point forward of the front face of the backing plate, oneadjacent each end thereof, and adapted to receive and hold a bladebetween them independent of the backing plate; and a lever movablymounted on the handle and in operative engagement with the clamp lformoving it fore and aft with relation to the front face of the backingplate.

3. A safety razor comprising: an elongated handle; a transverselydisposed blade backing plate rigidly afIXed to one end thereof; abifurcated blade holding clamp for receiving and holdlng the oppositeends of a blade and for moving the blade toward and away from the frontface of said backing plate; a longitudinally disposed :,'iot in saidhandle adjacent the backing plate; a pair of oppositely positionedslots, one in each endof said backing plate, said blade clamp beingslidably mounted in the three mentioned slots for guided longitudinalmovement with relation to the handle; and a lever mounted on the handleand operably connected with the clamp for positively moving it betweenblade clamping and blade free positions.

4. A safety razor comprising: an elongated handle; a transverselydisposed blade backing plate rigidly axed to one end thereof;cooperating slots in the backing plate and in the handle for slidablyreceiving a blade holding clamp and for guiding its movementlongitudinally with relation to said handle; a bifurcated blade holdingclamp slidably mounted in said slots; and a lever mounted on the handleand operably connected with the clamp for positively moving it betweenblade clamping and blade free positions.

5. The invention described in claim 4, and cooperating means on thelever and on the handle for locking the clamp in a blade clampingposition.

ROY L. STOVER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,060,904 Humphrey May 6, 19131,478,160 Adams Deo. 18, 1923 2,219,099 Dunning Oct. 22, 1940

